Self-oiling journal-bearing



E. R. STILWELL.

SELF OILING JOURNAL BEARING.

(No Model.)

Patented May 12, 1896.

by cutting away the portions B UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

EDWIN R. sTILwELL, or DAYTON, OHIO- SELF-OILING JOURNAL-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,956, dated May 12, 1896.

Application filed April 1 1895- To all 2071 0727, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN R. STILWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Self-Oiling Journal-Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to self-oiling journalbearings.

The object of my invention is to provide a j ournal-bearing and to so construct such hearing that oil will be continuously conveyed from a reservoir therein to the top of the shaft revolving in the journal-bearing, and thus provide a journahbearing that will run for months without any attention whatever.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of the journal-bearing with the cap removed and with parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Like parts are indicated by like letters throughout the several figures.

As shown in the drawings, a shaft A is journaled in a divided journal-boX B, said journal-boX being supported by the pillow-block C and provided with the cap D. A wheel or disk A is connected with the shaft A so as to rotate therewith, and is located between the two portions of the divided journal-box. The pillow-block O is provided with the oilreservoir 0, and the disk A projects into such oil-reservoir. The inner ends of the portions of the divided journal-box are provided with the annular projecting flanges B B. These flanges are of such size and shape as to completely inelose the disk A. Said flanges are cut away below the shaft at B 13 so as to allow the oil in the reservoir C to have free access to the disk A. It will thus be seen that the disk or wheel is provided with an in closing cover within the pillow-box and cover, such inclosin g cover communicating with the oil in the reservoir C by the opening formed Said flanges are also provided above the shaft with the holes 13 15 which pass through their sides, as shown, and also with the opening B, which passes through their outer edges. The upper parts of the two portions of the divided Serial No. 545,147. (No model.)

journal-box are provided with the oil-holes B B, said oil-holes being preferably connected by means of a groove B with the holes 13"]3". The holes B B are preferably used when the shaft is revolving at a low rate of speed, while the opening B is best adapted to accomplish the purpose when the shaft is revolving at a high rate of speed.

In order that I may control the size of these openings and thus adjust the bearing for any given rate of speed, I provide such openings with the controllingvalves, which, as shown in the drawings, consist of the screws B B The oil after passing through the bearing may return to the reservoir by means of the passage-ways O C at the ends of the pillowblock and cap. The disk A is preferably notched or indented on its periphery, as shown, so that it may the better lift the oil out of the reservoir and force it through the openings B 13*. I have described these several parts in detail; but it is evident that they may be varied in form, construction, and arrangement and that some of them may be omitted without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I may also use a single continuous journalboX instead of a divided journal-box, as shown, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact construction set forth in the drawings.

I have shown the journal-box or babbittbushing as made in four pieces; but it is evident that such bushing may be made in two pieces, if desired.

I have described the oil-carrying disk as rigidly connected to the shaft; but it is evident that in some cases it may be desirable to have the disk loose upon the shaft, said disk being rotated by its frictional contact with the shaft.

It is also evident that this journal may be ad apted to any form of hanger or rigid journal.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: When the parts are in the position shown in the drawings and the shaft is revolving, the oil in the reservoir C adhering to the disk A. is thrown against the sides of the flanges B B and flows out through the holes B 13*. It is then carried by gravitation by means of the grooves 15 to the openings B in the journal-boX, and is thus brought into contact with the shaft, and after performing its purpose runs back into the reservoir 0. It will thus be seen that by this construction I am able to produce a self-oiling bearing that carries the oil to the top of the journal box or bushing, where it is then distributed and returned to its reservoir to be again used in a similar manner. The openings 13 B are best adapted for slow speeds, while the opening 13 is used to the best advantage when the shaft is revolving at a high rate of speed, each of the openings of course being controlled by means of the screws B B so that only the required amount of oil will be supplied to the shaft.

The real principle of my invention consists in the association with the rotating shaft of new and improved means or devices, which practically constitute a pump or the like, whereby the oil in mass is carried up to the upper part of the shaft without being scattered around the pillow-block and cover, and means for distributing such oil along the shaft.

I claim- 1. A self-oiling bearing comprising a j ournal-box in which the shaft is j ournaled, a pillow-block and cover for the same, a wheel or disk connected with such shaft so as to rotate therewith, an oil-reservoir into which said disk projects, said journal-box being provided with annular projecting flanges which form an inclosing cover for the disk, within the pillow-block and cover, that prevents the oil from being scattered, said inclosing cover having an opening through which the oil in the reservoir is admitted to the wheel and also having one or more openings above the shaft by which the oil may pass out through the cover, means for regulating the flow of oil through said openings, the journal-box having a series of holes in its top so situated. that the oil from said opening or openings will be conveyed to the shaft.

2. A self-oilin g j ournal-bearing comprising an oil-reservoir, a divided journal-box in which the shaft is j ournaled, a pillow-block upon which said box is supported, and which is provided with a cover, a wheel or disk on said shaft located between the two portions of said journal-box and projecting into said reservoir, the portions of said journal-box being provided with annular projecting flanges which form an inclosing cover for said disk, within the pillow and cover, said inclosing cover having an opening through which the oil in the reservoir is admitted to the wheel, and also having one or more openings above the shaft by which the oil may pass through the cover, and a series of holes in the upper part 'of each portion of the divided journalbox and by which the oil may be conveyed to the bearing.

A self-oiling journal-bearing comprising a divided journal-box in which the shaft is j o'urnaled, a pillow-block upon which said bOX is supported, said block provided with a removable cover, a wheel or disk provided with a notched or indented periphery and connected with said shaft, so as to rotate therewith, said disk located between the two portions of said journal-box and projecting into the oilreservoir, projecting flanges on the two parts of the journal-box which form an inelosing cover having an opening through which the oil in the reservoir is admitted to the wheel, and also having one or more openings above the shaft by which the oil may pass out through the cover, and a series of holes in the upper part of each portion of the divided j ournal-box by which oil maybe conveyed to the bearing, and a connecting-chaunel between the opening in said inclosing cover and the series of holes in the journal-box.

4. A self-oiling bearing comprising a journal-box in which the shaft is journaled, a pillow-block upon which said box is supported, said block provided with a removable cover, a wheel or disk connected with said shaft so as to rotate therewith, an oil-reservoir into which said disk projects, an inclosing cover for said disk, within the pillow-block and cover, that prevents the oil from being scattered, said inclosin g cover having an opening through which the oil in the reservoir is admitted to the-wheel, and also having one or more openings above the shaft by which the oil may pass out through the cover, and a series of holes on the top of the journal-box so situated that the oil passing through said opening or openings will be conveyed to the shaft.

5. In a self-oiling journal-bearing the combination of a shaft with a pump-like apparatus associated therewith and driven thereby and adapted to carry the oil in mass above the shaft said pump-like apparatus contained within the journal-box, and channels or ways for conducting and discharging the oil along the upper part of the shaft said channels formed by cutting away part of said j ournalbOX, and means for controlling the outflow of the oil.

(5. In a self-oilin g journal-bearing the combination of a shaft with a journal-box thcrefor, a rotating wheel on the shaft inclosed within said journal -box, said journal-box forming a case surrounding the wheel, whereby it acts as a pump to carry the oil from the reservoir below to the upper part of the shaft, said ease having escape or conducting channels or passages whereby the oil is discharged upon and distributed along the shaft said escape-passages being provided with control ling devices at one end and communicating with the shaft at the other end substantially as described. 

